"We knew we were coming to a difficult ground. They're a team that plays very well. We couldn't, and they didn't let us progress in attack to create more plays like [Marcos] Llorente's and [Ademola] Lookman's. The third one looked like it was offside, but it wasn't. If Barcelona score goals from set-pieces, it's even more difficult."
"They took away the time we needed to play. At home, we had that time. We played with a higher intensity then. That's why we scored four goals. Today it was harder. But I leave with the joy and the great effort of knowing how to suffer. It's part of this competition when it's a two-legged tie."
"The changes were to increase the intensity. They were a step ahead of us. We couldn't break through from the back like Llorente did once. But it was only once. In the first leg, we broke through much more often. When you attack less, against a team that plays well, it becomes more difficult."
Atletico Madrid qualified for the Copa del Rey final after a 3-0 second-leg defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou, securing their place through their dominant 4-0 first-leg victory. Barcelona's goals came from Marc Bernal twice and Raphinha's penalty, but they fell short of scoring the fourth goal needed for extra time. Simeone acknowledged Barcelona's superiority, noting they controlled the game's tempo and prevented Atletico from executing their attacking strategy. Despite the loss, Atletico demonstrated resilience in defending against Barcelona's pressure. This marks Atletico's 20th Copa del Rey final appearance, their second under Simeone, and their first in 13 years. They will face either Real Sociedad or Athletic Club in April's final.
Read at Soccer News
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